Re: The decline of the local derby : Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:08 pm  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

Since SL's inception in 96, Widnes have largely been poop. They're almost an irrelevance, now. Look at that side, and it's "never heard of, never heard of, crap, kid, never heard of". Compare this to what I've witnessed in nearly 40 years of this fixture. Tamati, Lyndon, Gregory, Burke, Myler, Offiah, Sorenson, Shearer, Hulme(s), Mckenzie Wright etc.

This is true but was also true in the period of 2002 to 2005 and in those days the spirit of the derby was rekindled, they were probably our biggest most tasty fixtures of those seasons (probably because the two clubs were roughly similar in ability until they fell away in the last year).

But also - the Man Utd v Man City derby kept its spark through the 1990s and 2000s, when City had two decades of being poop like Widnes have now, and United spent two decades winning everything which Warrington very definitely haven't done. Actually I'm not sure the United / City derby is any better now than it was then, despite the clubs now being rivals at the top.

The Liverpool v Everton derby has also kept its spark despite having an uneven record although admittedly I don't think it's how it was in the 1980s or early 1990s.

Re: The decline of the local derby : Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:54 pm  

From my experience the rugby we see today is a reflection of life. I remember the workplace of the 1970s. Full of characters, plenty of laughs and not too serious or indeed professional. Compare that to now: very structured very professional and not very exciting ...much the same as what we see on the pitch. So clearly the answer is go back to a semi professional game and wear flares.

Re: The decline of the local derby : Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:12 pm  

Been watching Wire for 40 years. Always has and always will be Wigan in my eyes as the Derby game. For me they have been our main rivals and the one game more than any in a season I want to win. This is closely followed by Saints and then anyone else around us posistion wise on the table that’s around us and Widnes are usually not in the vicinity!

Re: The decline of the local derby : Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:15 pm  

I wonder whether we will be closer in the league table to Wigan or Widnes this season...

Re: The decline of the local derby : Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:23 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

I wonder whether we will be closer in the league table to Wigan or Widnes this season...

This Friday will answer that question,given they don’t arrive back till tomorrow, we should in all honesty hammer them, we lose and forget winning anything this season.

Re: The decline of the local derby : Sun Feb 18, 2018 9:05 pm  

As I come from Newton it was always Wigan as the enemy. I wasn't even sure where Widnes was (I'm still not totally sure, and I've been there a few times), first time they registered with me was that fateful day at Wembley in '75.

Re: The decline of the local derby : Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:56 pm  

I’m sorry but I can’t take interest in a tin pot town that doesn’t know what it is. A Warrington postcode, a Liverpool dialling code and in Cheshire? It’s the place that no one gives two hoots about. Misfit town.

Back to the question Wigan and Saints games mean more to me.

Re: The decline of the local derby : Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:23 am  

Wigan first then Sts and then Leeds, the rest are well, the rest! Those three games I expect a level of performance that is well above any other game, if we win then great if we don't, it hurts.

Re: The decline of the local derby : Mon Feb 19, 2018 1:53 pm  

Having watched Wire for over 55 years, I can honestly say, neither myself or all the lads I used to go with, view the Widnes game as anything special. Wigan has always been the main fixture. I don't view Widnes with any more importance than Salford or Huddersfield, never have.

Re: The decline of the local derby : Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:22 am  

I also find it interesting and disappointing that the Widnes 'derby' seems of lesser interest to the Widnes public, too. Whilst there are a few fanatics on their own board ( they love calling Wire ' the scum' ) the derby match is clearly not such a big deal. Generally if one side in a derby fixture goes through a long period of little success compared to their rival, then the 'smaller' club's fans cling to the derby as the one way they can claim bragging rights and inflict a little damage on their stronger opponent. Clearly not happening at Widnes v Wire games.